The objective of this study was to develop a biodegradable material for use in reconstructive surgery of the bladder to serve a temporary function until normal regrowth of the host's tissue is completed. The biodegradable material can serve as a base over which the new bladder can regenerate. At the conclusion of the regrowth of the new tissue, the temporary material could be consumed by the body and therefore not have to be removed. Material evaluation showed that 70% acetic anhydride treated bovine pericardium was digested and dissolved in 4 weeks when implanted subcutaneously in dogs. Based upon this, supplementation of the bladder using this material was performed on 5 dogs. One dog showed urinary leakage and was sacrificed after 1 week. In 3 dogs examined 4, 6, and 48 weeks after implantation, respectively, the implanted material had been dissolved. In one animal autopsied at 10.5 months, a small remnant of the material still remained. Post-operative observation of the animals, excretory pyelocystograms and cystometry confirmed that the material applied was useful for experimental urinary bladder supplementation.
Human thoracic anatomy was studied using computed tomography (CT) for the development of a totally implantable electrohydraulic left ventricular system [Nimbus, Inc., and The Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF)]. To obtain statistical dimensional information for the chest wall, apex of the heart, and aorta, routine calibrated CT scans of 18 men and 17 women were analyzed. A special radiopaque vest was worn by the patient just prior to the scanning and X-ray procedures, so that each transverse scan could be assigned to a specific chest level after combination with a standard vertical referencing system set on the patient's radiogram. A polar coordinate system and direct measurement of transverse distances from the vertical column to points on the chest wall were employed to define collectively the shape and size of the intrathoracic surface of the chest wall. Locations of the aorta and apex were described by measuring their normalized distances from the midline and vertical column to the intrathoracic surface of the lateral and anterior chest wall. The radius of curvature of the intrathoracic wall lateral to the left ventricle was determined to be approximately 10.4 cm for the average adult male chest. The present CCF intrathoracic pump with this curvature fits fairly well in both the average and individual thoraxes of these adult males. The location of the aorta, particularly of the descending aorta, was used to determine the optimal outlet design. The most critical anatomical area was the apex location. For adult males, an average distance of 2.8 cm from the apex to the internal chest wall was found. Because of this small dimension, careful design of the inflow port is being performed to avoid anatomical mismatch.
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